Apparatus foe cleansing wool



(No Model.) 3 Sheets--Sheet 1. G. & A. BURNELL. APPARATUS PoR GLBANSING Wool.. No. 440,418. Patented Nov. 11,1890.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. 8u' A. BURNELL. APPARATUS FOR OLBANSING WOOL.

No. 440,418. Patented Nov. 11-l 1890.

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(No Model.)

G. 8v A. BURNELL.

APPARATUS PoR GLBANSING WOOL.

No. 440,418. Patented Nov. 11,1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

GEORGE BURNELL AND ARTHUR BURNELL, OF HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANSING WOOL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,418, dated November 11, 1890.

Application filed October 9, 1888. Serial No. 287,699. (No model.)

4of which the following is a specification.

The obj ect of our invention is to provide an apparatus for manipulating` wool and other similar textile products during a process of cleansing in which use is made of a volatile solventsuch as benzin e-for the purpose of extracting the grease, yolk, and other oils or salts, as potash, dsc. The advantage of en1ploying this class of solvents is that the wool (in which terni both here and hereinafter we inv clude all other similar materials) is cleansed from all impurities, including sand and earthy matters, except seeds or burrs, without tearing -and tangling the fibers or breaking up the fleeces.

The process for the carrying out of which our apparatus is designed consists in passing greasy wool through benzine, and subjecting it, during such passage and while in the solvent, to repeated squeezings for the purpose of removing the grease and earthy matters. The latter, being precipitated during the progress of the operation, are removed by an automatic appliance, and on the solvent becoming saturated with the] grease and yolk it is removed for their recovery by further treatment. After eliminating as far as possible the benzine by final suppression, the process further consists in passing the partiallycleansed wool through water for the purpose of removing the potash and other similar substances soluble in water. During such passage, and while in the water, the wool is again subjected to repeated squeezings, and, after a final compression, by which as much as possible of the liquid is removed, is delivered for drying free from all impurities except seeds or burrs.

Our apparatus consists of a receptacle or pair of tanks, each provided with a revolving drum and a series of rollers compressed by springs upon the circumference of the drums. Additional rollers are also provided for the final elimination of the solvents and for the transit of the Wool during the progress of the operation, while the tank containing the behzine is constructed with an apparatus for the automatic removal of the heavier impurities precipitated during the process.

In order that our invention may be better understood, we will now proceed to describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which--L Figure l is a longitudinal elevation, partly in section, of the apparatus complete, the cuter casing being removed in order to more clearly show the internal mechanism. Fig. 2 is an end sectional elevation of the main tank, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side sectional elevation, showing the end of a squeezing-roller with bearingblock and Y actuatingspring, the flange of the main drum and teeth of gear-wheels; Fig. i, an end elevation of squeezing-roller and attachments; Fig. 5, a side elevation of end-compressing rollers, showing spring-attachment for straining them together; Fig. 6, an end elevation of com pressin g-rollers and spring attachments. A

Referring to Figs. l and 2, where are shown longitudinal and cross-sections of an apparatus consisting of two tanks or receptacles for solvents and mechanism for treating the wool, A is a drum or roller, constructed, preferably, with cast-iron flanges and having its circumference covered with sheet metal; A spindle of the drum A, revolving in suitable bearings provided in the main frame-Work, and actuated by a main driving-pulley; A2, deep iianges of the drum A, Figs. l, 2, and 3.

A3 are toothed flanges or gear-wheels'for actuating the subsidiary rollers. The toothed iiange A3, in actual practice, is constructed in one piece with the ange A2.

B is a second drum of similar construction to the drum A, but of smaller size; B', spindle of the drum B, revolving in suitable bearings provided in the main frame-work.

.Bf are deep flanges of the drum B. The fianges B2 are construct-ed with further toothed flanges similar to the flanges A3, but which are not shown in the drawings.

O O, Figs. 1, 2, 8, and it, are subsidiary rollers of such length as to revolve freely between the iianges A2 or B2; C', spindles of same.

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C2 are toothed wheels or disks attached to the rollers C on alternate ends and geared into the fianges A2, by which they are driven. The rollers C, connected with the smaller drum B, are provided with similar gearwheels. (Not shown in the drawings.)

D D are adjustable bearing-blocks ot' spindles C', Figs. l, 3, and 4; D D', guide-blocks for the bearing-blocks D, dovetailed into the rim of main frame-work; E E, spiral springs fitting into a recess in each block D, and taking a bearing on the rims of the tanks, Figs. 3 and 4, for the purpose of compressing the rollers C against the circumterences of the drums A and B; F F, carrier-rollers for conveying the wool under treatment from one tank to another; F F', gear-wheels for driving carrier-rollers.

G G, Figs. l, 5, and 6, are wringing-rollers covered with cloth or other elastic material, and of such length as to revolve freely between the flanges A2 or B2. The rollers G G strip the wool from the rollers A and B.

G are spindles ot' the rollers G, revolving in suitable bearings in the main frame-work; G2, smaller wringing-rollers; G2, bearings for spindles of the rollers G; G4, bearings for spindles of the rollers G2; G5, spiral springs connecting the bearings G2 and G4.

H H are scraping-rollers actuated by any suitable means and provided for the purpose of preventing the wool from wrapping around the wringing-rollers G.

I I are feed-rollers connected to gear-wheels and forming the entrance of the machine. A tip of leather or other suitable material is in close contact to the rollers at the inlet and outlet, so as to prevent as much as possible the escape of the fumes from the solvent.

J is a feed-apron or endless band for conveying the Wool to the mouth of the machine; K, bracket supporting` the feed-apron J, bolted to one of the main supports; L, Figs. 1 and 2, grooved roller for removing the sand and earthy impurities; L', spindle for the grooved roller L, revolving in suitable bearings and driven from the main spindle A; M, cylindercasing of the roller L, bolted to the main framework of the first tank; N N, deep longitudinal grooves in the roller L; P, opening or slot in the main tank leading to the grooved roller L; Q,trapdoor hinged to the casing M, forming the outlet of the earthy impurities, and closed, as shown, when the machine is at rest, in order to prevent the escape or" the solvent; T T, tanks containing the solvent; U U, castiron supports; V V, cover of tanks T T; W, escape-plpe of fumes from solvent; X, delivery-apron or endless band on which the wool is received from the iinal wringing-rollers G G2 and carried to the drying-room for final treatment.

The modes of cleansing wool and removing the precipitated earthy matters by means of our apparatus is as follows: The first or larger tank is partially filled with benzine to the dotted line, (marked solvent,) as shown. The

second or smaller tank is partially filled with water to the dotted line ot' water, .as shown. On the machine being set in motion by moving the main driving-belt the wool spread upon the feed-band J is conveyed in a continuous stream to the feed-rollers I. By these it is seized, and being carried into the Inachine is vpassed onto the circumference of the drum A. As the drum A revolves in the direction shown by the arrows, the toothed flange A3 engages the gear-wheels C2 and turns the rollers C in the reverse direction, as shown by the arrows. rlhe wool, being carried round by the drum A, receives repeated squeezings as it passes between the rollers C, which are compressed sufficiently for this purpose by the action of the spiral springs E on the adj ustable blocks D, which carry the spindles C. As an effect ot' the solvent, together with these repeated squeezings during its progress through the solvent, the grease and earthy impurities are gradually eliminated. The grease is held in partial suspension by the solvent; but the heavier particles are precipitated to the bottom ofthe tank and fall through the opening P into the grooves N of the roller L as the latter slowly revolves in the cylindrical casing M. Means are also provided by a tap or otherwise for the removal of the saturated solvent for recovery of the byproducts by evaporation and condensation of the solvent through any known process. The wool, becoming cleaner and cleaner through the repeated sfpieezings in the solvent, is carried round to the wringing-rollers G G2 and passes between them. The rollers G2, being drawn tightly against the circumfv ference of G by the springs G5, wring out almost the whole of the solvent and pass the wool onto the carrying-rollers F, ready for the second part ot' the process. To prevent the wool wrapping round the roller G, a stripping-roller H is provided. The carrier-rollers F, connected by the gear-wheels F', pass the wool along their upper surface to the second tank and deliver it onto the circumference of the drum B. The second tank is filled with water at a suitable temperature, in which the wool is again subjected to repeated squeezings by the rollers C, as before. By this further process the potash and other impurities soluble in water are removed. The Wool is meanwhile carried round to the second set of wringing-rollers, which have a similar action to the Iirst set. Here it receives a final compression in order to free it from the Water as much as possible, and being lifted from the roller G by the stri pping-roller H is delivered onto the endless band X for carriage to the drying-chamber.

The apparatus is rendered vapor-prooi` as much as possible by suitable tips or cover ings at the entrance and exit of the Wool, and is besides provided with an exhaust W, through which the fumes of the solvent given off during the cleansing operation are carried for condensation and further use.

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We Wish it to be distinctly understood that We do not coniinc ourselves to the particular numberv of tanks composing the apparatus or to the combination of two or a series in one machine; nor do We confine ourselves to any particular number of the rollers C or the method of compressing the same on the drums A and B, nor to any particular number of grooves in the roller L; but

We claim as our invention-fl. A machine for cleansing Wool or the like, consisting of a vapor-tight receptacle comprising two tanks, the first to contain a solvent and the second to contain Water, each tank provided with squeezing devices, wringing-rollers to retain the solvent in the first tank, guide-rollers between the tanks, rollers GEORGE BURNELL. ARTHUR BURNELL.

Witnesses:

FRANCIS HUGH SNOW, CHARLES STANLEY BURGEss. 

